Philip strikes gold in Bad Ragaz

Philip Golding secured his third European Senior Tour title as he fired a final round 63 to win the Swiss Seniors Open by one stroke at Golf Club Bad Ragaz today. The Englishman, whose last victory came in 2014 at the French Riviera Masters, started the final day four shots behind overnight leader Mark Mouland but quickly raced up the leaderboard with three consecutive birdies from the second hole to the fourth hole. The 54 year old, who won the HNA Open de France in 2003, made further gains on the tenth, 11th and 12th holes and then birdied the 16th to move to 15 under par, which gave him a one-shot lead over former Senior Major Champion Mark McNulty. “It’s been a couple of years since I won,” said Golding. “When you win, it doesn’t matter where you win, it’s fantastic. I’m really happy. “I was thinking all the way round that I needed to keep pushing. I set a target of 16 under par and fortunately 15 under did the trick. “I finished in the top ten here last year and two 65s on the weekend. I managed to putt a lot better this week. I changed my putter and it made all the difference.” In his last four appearances in Bad Ragaz, Golding has finished no lower than 11th. With rounds of 67-65-63, he finished one place better than his runner-up result in 2015. “I love the course,” he said. “It’s a tricky place, you really have to putt well. There are lots of opportunities for birdies, but whenever you are in contention the fairways get a little narrower and the holes get a little smaller too.” McNulty, who won the Regions Tradition in 2007, was pleased to have finished second in just his second regular Senior Tour event after carding a final round 64. “In Finland, I lost my head and that cost me a place in the top ten,” said the 63 year old.  “I went out there with the intention of making amends and I’m very, very pleased to finish second. “I’m trying to break my age out there, and hopefully that will happen soon. I’m taking two weeks off now in Tuscany and then I’ll be heading to the Senior Open at Royal Porthcawl.” In a share of third place were Welshman Mark Mouland and American pair Clark Dennis and Tim Thelen on 13 under par. Paul Wesselingh, winner of the Swiss Seniors Open in 2013, finished sixth a shot further back. Former Ryder Cup player Jarmo Sandelin carded the lowest round of the day, an eight under par 62, as he finished seventh, his best result since joining the Senior Tour after turning 50 in May. FINAL TOTALS par 210 (3x70) 195 P Golding (Eng) 67 65 63 196 M McNulty (Ire) 64 68 64 197 C Dennis (USA) 63 68 66, M Mouland (Wales) 63 65 69, T Thelen (USA) 64 67 66 198 P Wesselingh (Eng) 65 66 67 199 J Sandelin (Swe) 73 64 62 200 M Atlevi (Swe) 66 70 64, P Price (Wal) 67 65 68 201 L Zhang (Chn) 68 65 68, 202 G Orr (Sco) 69 67 66, M Martin (Spn) 73 65 64, C Williams (SAf) 68 67 67, J Spence (Eng) 66 71 65, M Harwood (Australia) 65 68 69 203 T Wiratchant (Tha) 73 62 68, P Wilson (Eng) 71 64 68, A Oldcorn (Sco) 63 68 72, P O'Malley (Australia) 71 67 65, 204 A Bossert (Switz) 71 69 64, S Luna (Spn) 67 68 69, D Gilford (Eng) 71 68 65, G Turner (NZ) 66 73 65, G Wolstenholme (Eng) 68 67 69 205 G Brand (Eng) 70 69 66, B McGovern (Ire) 73 66 66, C Mason (Eng) 68 69 68 206 P Walton (Ire) 71 65 70, R Rafferty (NIre) 67 68 71 207 J Quiros (Spn) 71 71 65 208 M Farry (Fra) 69 66 73, S Brown (Eng) 71 69 68, P Linhart (Spn) 66 72 70, B Lane (Eng) 68 71 69 209 P Fowler (Australia) 73 67 69, E Toledo (Mex) 71 64 74, J Sallat (Fra) 70 68 71 210 C Monasterio (Arg) 69 67 74, J Kingston (RSA) 68 69 73, E Darcy (Irl) 71 66 73 212 R Drummond (Sco) 72 66 74, P Eales (Eng) 68 72 72, G Rusnak (USA) 72 69 71, S Tinning (Den) 68 74 70, G Brand Jnr (Sco) 68 69 75, M Mackenzie (Eng) 69 73 70 213 J Rivero (Spn) 74 69 70 216 S Dodd (Wales) 77 72 67, A Mednickson (Swe) 77 67 72 220 S Richardson (Eng) 76 73 71 221 P Mitchell (Eng) 74 74 73, G Marks (Eng) 74 74 73 223 C Rocca (Ita) 78 72 73, 224 V Garcia (Spn) 78 74 72

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